Forever- a Percabeth story.

Chapter 21

Annabeth

I was having a hard time sleeping lately, Saturday night was no different. I just kept seeing it, the videos Piper had posted of Rachel and Percy, walking and talking and laughing together. And at the museum! MY museum!

We had been there for the opening of the Frank Loyd Wright exhibit, how could he just forget that?

Just as I was contemplating how much I hated him, Percy texted me. I sighed and forgave him. He had no idea how I felt, how could I justify anger at him for simply going to a museum?

What had he said? "I would not have punched you, that I know for sure." Those words had made warmth flood through me, like I was drinking hot chocolate...but the guilt from punching him was just as consuming, and it lasted longer. I shut my eyes tight and wished for the hundredth time that I hadn't done it.

I took a melatonin to help me sleep, I didn't know how I was going to spend all day with him tomorrow.

________

The second I saw him my knees buckled. It was noon and he had just crawled out of bed. In grey sweatpants and messy hair, he smiled at me as came down the stairs. The bruise wasn't gone, but it looked fainter than it did in the pictures from yesterday.

"Hey." Percy said casually. I locked my knees.

"Mornin'" I said.

"Mom and Paul already left?" He asked, starting to pour himself a bowl of cereal. I nodded in response, they had just shut the door when Percy walked down, I wondered if he timed it like that on purpose.

I brought my backpack and stuff over to the table. I had brought an insane amount of work with me, I needed to be distracted.

"God, did you bring the entire library home with you?" Percy asked sarcastically.

"They have a five book limit, you know that." I responded coldly. I don't know why, I just felt defensive.

"It's called a joke. What's got you in a mood?" He said.

God. I had been here five minutes and we were already bickering.

What's got me in a mood? Maybe it's your pretty new girlfriend and how you took her to my museum. Maybe it's how obnoxiously cute you look in the morning. Maybe it's the fact that your bruise still looks bad and I feel like an idiot for punching you. Maybe it's the way you said my name on the phone two nights ago.

"Didn't you get all this stuff done yesterday? You said you were going to work on your project." Percy said, pointing to all the books on the table.

"I did." I told him "I just still have more to do." I said. I had brought over my research project, AP bio notes, calculus homework, and my extra credit assignment. I had gotten most of the research project proposal done yesterday, and I had worked on Percy's party. I was going to go over the to-do list with Piper on the ride to school tomorrow.

"You're not from this planet." He told me plainly.

I ignored the comment and he went to eat his breakfast on the couch, joining Tyson and Malcolm.

"Percy said you'd lose in a fight to Azula." Tyson called out to me.

I heard Percy say something and then smack him on the back of the head.

"Actually," Tyson doted "he said you "wouldn't stand a chance"" He giggled and Percy smacked him again.

I walked over to them "You've sure got a big mouth for someone with a black eye." I crossed my arms and looked at Percy. If we could joke about it like this, maybe my guilt would go away.